Battle of the Masts

The Battle of the Masts (655 AD) was a crucial naval battle between the Rashidun Caliphate and the Byzantine Empire. Abdullah ibn Saad, leading a fleet of Arab ships, defeated Emperor Constans II of Byzantium in a battle that gave the Arabs control of the sea.

Battle
In 655 AD, Rashidun Caliphate caliph Muawiyah launched an invasion of southern Anatolia (Turkey), fighting against the Christian Byzantine Empire. The Arabs were supported by 200 ships under Abdullah ibn Saad, who traveled along the shore. Emperor Constans II of Byzantium decided that the fleet was a bigger threat and led 500 ships in an attack on the fleet, off Phoenice (Finice).

During the battle, the Byzantines raised the cross and began to sign psalms in hopes of gaining God's blessing in battle. The Arabs raised the crescent and chanted their Koran verses in hopes of drowning out the sounds of Christian prayers, and the two masts remained high throughout the battle. Constans II was doomed to bad luck when a dream interpreter told him that he would lose the battle, based on a dream where Constans II was back in Thessalonica. Indeed, the Rashiduns won the battle, but both sides suffered heavy losses. Constans escaped by wearing one of his officer's uniforms, and let the Arabs take control of the sea.